DISLOYALTY AT LEAGUE FOOTBALL MATCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 12

DISLOYALTY AT LEAGUE FOOTBALL MATCH.

TO THE EDITOB. Si r) —Am I to be dubbed disloyal because 1 did not remove my hat on Saturday last at the Rugby League match when the band played the National Anthem? No Sir! and why? Because until tho tune was threeparts finished I did not reaJise what the band was trying to play, Of» all the doleful. dirge-like renderings it was tlm most dreary. 1 have no doubt that the English men did not recognise it. The National Anthem, when played by brass band, should open with a blare of trumpets and a roll of drums which brings everyona smartly to attention. It should then proceed with a martial air of “pomp and ceremony.” It is probably the finest of the National Anthems and should stir the feeling of every Britisher when it is plaved property. Fortunately, if tho band was slow the match was fast, and a splendid exhibition of Rugby football. I was in the grandstand enclosure, but did not see the band, neither do I know what band it was.— I am. etc.. Lieut.-Colonel, N.Z.E.F. August 13. Sin, —May I remind your correspondent that— There is a. type of “patriot” in "God’s Own” you will sec Who shouts “Let’s sing God Save the King” wherever he may be. He says that our respect for it’s got very badly bent, And wants it sung more frequently, nor will he bo content Till everv wind is Mowing it, Ami every coi'k s crowing it. Amt cacti kid's “lah-tce-doh'Mng it Hod Save Our Gracious King. He'd have the hells all ringing it, The pet, canary singing it, And football ciuhs all “springing” it God Save Our Gracious King. He’d have the bees all humming it, The linnds all fife and drumming it, And foreign pianists strumming it God Save Our Gracious King. From “loyalty” that’s snivelling And scntipfcnt that’s drivelling, And lip-service soul-shrivelling God Save Our Gracious King. —I am, etc., William Finlay Culture. Princess Theatre, August 13. Sin, —As a spectator of the League match on Saturday last I may state that I did not notice that anyone near where I was ignored the fact, that the National Anthem was being played. It looked to me that everyone was bareheaded, and, with the exception of some of the players, stationary. Visit the various theatres and one will alwava notice a few who take no notice of the National Anthem. Perhaps they do so unthinkingly, or perhaps they do not believe in remaining stationary, but that is not to say they arc disloyal. It costs nothing to stand the few moments, and to a number of people it is only “surface patriotism.” One has only to look round and flee the Chinese in our country who are getting a big share of custom in (heir shops. Are tho thousands of people who patronise the Chinese fruit shops in preference to their own countrymen all ignorant or disloyal? “Protestant” in your Monday’s issue flays, “It is high time the big loyal section of our people took a hand against the studied insults repeatedly flaunted at them by these disloyalists.” It would he interesting to know what, he suggests doing in that direction. To see the Chinese fruit shops doing a good trade in our midst does not say much for “the big loyal section of our people.”—l am, etc,, Dunedin, August 13. Patriot.